The impact of Automated testing on Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

By
John Kehinde
Senior Backend Engineer

Automated testing is a process of using software tools to execute predefined test cases on a software application, without human intervention. Automated testing can improve the quality, efficiency, and reliability of software development life cycle (SDLC), which is the process of planning, designing, developing, testing, and deploying software products. In this article, we will discuss how automated testing can impact SDLC in various aspects, such as:

• Reducing the time and cost of testing
• Increasing the test coverage and accuracy
• Enhancing the feedback and communication
• Supporting the agile and continuous delivery methods
• Preventing the defects and errors

Reducing the time and cost of testing

One of the main advantages of automated testing is that it can save a lot of time and resources for software developers and testers. According to a study by S. S. Kadam and Dr. S. S. Sonawane, automated testing can reduce the testing time by 50% to 90%, compared to manual testing. This is because automated testing can run faster, more frequently, and in parallel, without requiring human intervention or supervision. Automated testing can also reduce the cost of testing by eliminating the need for hiring or training manual testers, maintaining test environments, or purchasing test equipment.

Increasing the test coverage and accuracy

Another benefit of automated testing is that it can increase the test coverage and accuracy of software products. Test coverage is the measure of how much of the software functionality is tested by the test cases. Test accuracy is the measure of how well the test cases detect the defects and errors in the software. Automated testing can increase the test coverage by executing more test cases, covering more scenarios, inputs, outputs, and features. Automated testing can also increase the test accuracy by minimizing the human errors, biases, or inconsistencies that may occur in manual testing.

Enhancing the feedback and communication

Automated testing can also enhance the feedback and communication among the software development team members and stakeholders. Feedback is the information that indicates how well the software meets the requirements, expectations, and standards. Communication is the exchange of information among the software development team members and stakeholders. Automated testing can provide faster, more frequent, and more detailed feedback on the software quality, performance, and functionality. Automated testing can also facilitate better communication by generating clear, concise, and consistent test reports, logs, and metrics.

Supporting the agile and continuous delivery methods

Automated testing can also support the agile and continuous delivery methods that are widely used in modern software development. Agile is a method that emphasizes collaboration, flexibility, and customer satisfaction. Continuous delivery is a method that aims to deliver software products in short cycles, with frequent updates and releases. Automated testing can support these methods by enabling faster and more reliable testing cycles, ensuring that the software products are always ready for delivery. Automated testing can also support these methods by allowing more collaboration and feedback among the developers, testers, customers, and users.

Preventing the defects and errors

The ultimate goal of automated testing is to prevent the defects and errors that may affect the software quality, functionality, or performance. Defects are deviations from the expected or desired results. Errors are mistakes or faults that cause defects. Automated testing can prevent defects and errors by detecting them early in the SDLC, before they become more costly or difficult to fix. Automated testing can also prevent defects and errors by ensuring that the software products meet the specifications, standards, and requirements.

Conclusion

Automated testing is a valuable technique that can have a positive impact on SDLC. Automated testing can improve various aspects of SDLC, such as reducing the time and cost of testing, increasing the test coverage and accuracy, enhancing the feedback and communication, supporting the agile and continuous delivery methods, and preventing the defects and errors. By using automated testing tools effectively, software developers and testers can deliver high-quality software products faster and more efficiently.

References

“The Impact of Automated Testing on Software Development Life Cycle” by S. S. Kadam and Dr. S. S. Sonawane.